“What is that?” he exclaimed.
“We have to tell Father,” I repeated, ignoring him. “Where are Andahai and Benkai?”
“Here,” answered Andahai. All of our rooms were connected, and he stood between Hasho’s and Reiji’s chambers, wearing a stern expression.
“What’s with the commotion, Shiori?” He frowned when he saw my robes. “Did you fall into the lake again?”
I pushed past Andahai, turning to Benkai instead. He’d listen. He had to.
“She has a secret exit in her garden,” I said, “and it leads to a…a place in the Holy Mountains of Fortitude. If we follow this ball, it’ll take us there—”
My six brothers all wore identical expressions: creased brows, tucked chins, and pitying eyes. They wanted to believe me, but they didn’t. Of course they didn’t. I sounded like a raving fool.
“You…you don’t believe me.”
Reiji scoffed. “First you see a dragon, and now our stepmother is a demon?”
“It’s true!”
“I know you don’t want to get married, but surely there are better ways for you to get everyone’s attention.”
Benkai shot Reiji a warning look, then turned to me. “After dinner, Sister,” he said kindly. “After dinner, we’ll come with you to follow this ball of yarn, all right?”
“It’ll be too late!”
“Shiori, Shiori,” Hasho said, holding my shoulders. “You’re trembling.”
I twisted out of his hold, still reeling. “Father married a demon. We have to tell him. We have to—”
My tongue failed me. Raikama had appeared at the door. Gone was her serpent face, the white streak in her hair. Even her skirts were no longer wet.
But her presence was different: more powerful, more commanding. And the gash my bird had given her had healed in less than an hour!
As Kiki rushed back into my sleeve, my brothers immediately swept into the appropriate bows—but I lurched for the closest sword rack. Hasho blocked me and gripped my arm so hard I cringed.
Raikama’s eyes bored into mine. “I would like to speak with Shiori.”
“Perhaps after dinner, Stepmother,” replied Benkai. His shoulders had tensed and broadened, but although he wasthetallest of my brothers, with at least a head over Raikama, somehow she towered over him. “We’re already lateto—”
“The six of you will leave first.”
To my surprise, my brothers did not argue. Hasho let go of my arm, and he started for the door.
I grabbed a jade-hilted sword and chased my brothers, blocking Yotan and Wandei. “No, stay!”
The twins halted their steps, looking confused.
“Shiori,” rang my stepmother’s voice. “Drop the sword.”
It fell from my hand, and I gasped. I couldn’t move. My body was rebelling against my every command, rooting my feet to the ground and my arms to my side.
Fight, Shiori!Kiki cried, biting my hand from inside my sleeve.You must fight!
Raikama touched my shoulder. “Look at you. You’re hardly in any shape to come to dinner. Go quickly now and change. I will make up an excuse for your father.”
Her eyes flickered yellow, and a rush of cold tingled over my mind and body. Suddenly my anger at her was dulled, my memories of what I’d seen in her garden no more than a haze, a dream. All I wanted to do was obey, to go to my room and change so I’d be on time for dinner.
I’d wear one of my red robes. Red was my favorite color, and Father always said I looked best in it. Or maybe I’d wear that red sash Guiya had mentioned.
